leading question
Noun: A leading question is a question that is worded or phrased in a manner that suggests or prompts a particular answer, often the one desired by the person asking it. It is a type of question that may influence or guide the respondent toward a specific response.
Leading questions are primarily used in specific contexts where the intention is to guide the testimony or statement of a witness. Their use is often restricted or carefully controlled. - In a courtroom, lawyers are typically allowed to ask leading questions during cross-examination of a witness from the opposing side, but are generally prohibited from doing so during direct examination of their own witness. - In surveys, interviews, or everyday conversation, leading questions are often considered a form of bias, as they can skew results or manipulate opinions.
Legal Context:
- "The defense attorney objected, stating, 'Your Honor, that is a leading question,' after the prosecutor asked the witness, 'You were scared of the defendant, weren't you?'"
- On cross-examination, the lawyer is permitted to ask leading questions such as, "You never actually saw the defendant at the scene, did you?"
General Context:
- "Don't you think this new policy is a terrible idea?" (This question leads the listener to agree that the policy is terrible.)
- "How frustrating was the experience?" (This assumes the experience was frustrating and asks only to what degree.)
- Psychological and Investigative Interviewing: In fields like psychology or police investigation, the use of leading questions is a critical concern because they can create false memories or contaminate a witness's account. Best practices involve using open-ended, non-leading questions to obtain the most accurate information.
- Debate and Rhetoric: Leading questions can be used as a rhetorical device to corner an opponent or frame a discussion in a particular way, making it difficult for the respondent to disagree without appearing evasive.
- Loaded Question: A question that contains a controversial or unjustified assumption (e.g., "Have you stopped cheating on tests?"). While similar, a loaded question is more about embedding an accusation, whereas a leading question is about suggesting the answer.
- Suggestive Question: This is often used synonymously with "leading question," emphasizing its power to implant a suggestion in the respondent's mind.
- Suggestive question
- Prompting question
- Guided question
- Open-ended question: A question that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" and does not suggest an answer (e.g., "What happened next?").
- Neutral question: A question phrased without bias or suggestion.
- "To lead the witness": This is the verbal action corresponding to asking a leading question. It is often used as an objection in court.
- "Objection! Counsel is leading the witness."
- a question phrased in such a way as to suggest the desired answer; a lawyer may ask leading questions on cross-examination